Apparatus for launching boats.



S. H. SMITH.

APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED 05023, I916. RENEWED AUG. 2. 1918.

1 ,285,821 Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- 06 S. HfiMiTH Swan/M01 S. H. SMITH.

APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING BOATS.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC-23, I916- RENEWED AUG. 7- I918.

1 ,285,821. Patented Nov. 26, 1918:

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ian m. 47

Qwueutoz S. H- s M lTH S. H. SMITH.

APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHIYNG BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED 050 23, 1916. nzuzwcn AUG. 7. 1918.

1,285,821. Patented Nov. 26,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

5 l a I r5 nuns rrrEI-s cmmamumn. IAsulnamu p SAMUEL H. SMITH, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY.

.APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING BOATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Application filed December 23, 1916, Serial No. 138,592. Renewed August 7, 1918. Serial No. 248,806.

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic City, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Launching Boats, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for launching boats and it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this general character having novel and improved means for swinging a life boat or the like from inboard to outboard position, or vice versa.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus of,

- this general character wherein hollow davits are employed and through which the boat supporting cables are directed, and whereby it will be perceived thatthe possibility of an entanglement of said cables upon swinging of the davits from inboard to outboard position or vice versa is eliminated.

The invention also has for a still further object to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this general character wherein a plurality of davits are employed in connection with a single boat together with means whereby each of the davits may be positively rotated and wherein the rotation of said davits is controlled from a single point.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this general character wherein a plurality of davits are adapted to coact with a single boatand wherein said davits are positively rotated independently of the other from a common source of power and also wherein the power operating means when positively rotating one of the davits is free of the remainder of the davits.

The invention also has for an object to provide a novel and improved apparatus of 7 this general character wherein a plurality of davits are employed in connection with a single boat and wherein operated means is employed for rotating each of the davits together with a connection between the davits whereby a positive rotation of one of the davits results in rotary, movement being imparted to the remainder of the davits. A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this general character whereby the raising or lowering of a boat may be readily accomplished by a single personand wherein means is provided for controlling the lowering or raising of the boat andwherein the speed at which the boat is lowered is under automatic control.

The invention also contemplates for an object to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this general character whereby the davits are supported for rotary movement about avertical axis and whereby said rotary movement maybe effected with a minimum of frictional resistance, together with means whereby the descent of a boat may be readily stopped when required.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved apparatus for launching boats whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. I

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention maybe the better understood, I willnow proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein r Figure l is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly. in section illustrating a launching apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodimentof my. inventionfand wherein the davitsare adjusted in outboard position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary yiew in bottom plan and of somewhat a diagrammatic char- -acter illustrating a portion of the mechanism for imparting rotary movement to the davits; 1 Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation illustrating the means herein embodied for imparting rotary movement to the davits; p

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken transversely through the upper portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3 with the operating lever shown in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a view in top plan of the driving gears as comprised in the davit operating means, detached;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view partly in top plan and partly in section of the winding mechanism as herein embodied;

Fig. 7 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section with a davitshown in outboard position;

Fig. 8 is a detail-sectional View taken transversely through the upper end portion of the davit as disclosed in Fig. 7;

Fi 9 is an enlarged fragmentar view in vertical section illustrating the mounting of one of the davits as herein included;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating the means as herein embodied for operating the controlling brake and the clutch member;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in top plan of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section-of one of the hook members as herein employed together with the coacting member carried by the boat to be raised or lowered; and

Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Fig. 12 with the engaging member or loop shown in elevation.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes the deck of a ship having an ranged therebeneath a false deck 2. Extending through the deck 1 adjacent a side thereof and in predetermined longitudinally spaced relation are the hollow posts or standards 3 of predetermined dimensions and each of which being herein disclosed as having the outwardly disposed annular flange 4. contacting with the upper surface of the deck 1 and afiording a means for maintaining the post or standard 3 in an operative position. i

Detachably engaged with the opposite end portions of each of the posts or standards 3 are the caps 5 to afford mountings for the anti-friction members 6 herein disclosed roller bearings suitabl mounted in conventional retaining rings. As the specific arrangement and the character of the anti-friction members forms no part of my present invention, a detail description thereof is believed to be unnecessary.

Extending through each of the posts or standards 3 is the lower extremity of a tubular or hollow davit 7 and the portion of said davit within the post or standard 3 is in contact with the anti-friction members 6, as is believed to be clearly illustrated in detail Fig. 9.

The portion of the davit 7 immediately above the coacting post or standard 3 is provided with the bell or hood 8 into which the upper end. portion of the post or standard 3 and more particularly the upper cap 5 thereof extends, and interposed between the top portion of said upper cap 5 and the closed end portion of the hell or hood 8 are the thrust bearings 9 whereby it will be perceived that the davit 7 is permitted to rotate with a minimum of friction and is effectively supported in applied position by the post or standard 3.

The upper end of each of the davits 7 is provided with a lateral extension 10 disposed on a predetermined upward incline and which is substantially in the form of an inverted U in cross section as particularly illustrated in detail Fig. 8, and whereby an under open face is afforded. The major portion of the under open face is adapted to he closed by the elongated plate 11 snugly fitting within the lower marginal portion of said extension 10 and having its inner end portion pivotally engaged, as at 12, to the inner portion of the extension 10 and slightly below the opening 14- produced in the upper part of the davit '7 or more particularly the vertical portion thereof.

The outer or free end portion of the plate 11 is provided with the upwardly directed perforate lug 15 through which the removable bolt 16 or the like is adapted to be directed, said bolt 16 or the like being disposed through the opposite sides of the extension 10 so that the plate 11 may be effectively held in closed position. It will be obvious that by removing the bolt 16 or the like the plate 11 may be readily thrown into an in operative or open position when it is desired to have access within the section 10, as the requirements of practice may necessitate.

Rotatably supported about a horizontal axis within the extension 10 adjacent the outer end thereof and in advance of the plate 11 when in closed position. is the pulley i? over which passes the cable 18. The cable 18 also passes over the pulle 19 rotatably supported about a horizontal axis and disposed within the opening 14 hereinbefore referred to and which cable extends downwardly through the davit 7 to a drum 20 or 21. The outer end of the cable 18 is secured to the clevis pivotally engaged with the outer or free. end of the extension 10 and at a point in advance of the outer or free end of the plate 11 when said plate is in closed adjustment.

The portion of the cable 18 intermediate the clevis 22 and the pulley 17 passes under the pulley 23 carried by the block 24:, and said block 2% is in swiveled engagement as indicated at 25 in Fig. 13, with the intermediate or base portion of the member 26 of a substantially U-shape form.

Extending bQJWQEfl the side arms of the member 26 are the crossed levers 27 pivotally supported intermediate their length by the common pin 28 which also, extends.

oropposite ends ofthe levers 27 are weighted, as indicated at 32, and which are adapted to drop when the portions 29 are relieved of a load so that the levers 27 will be automatically released from the engaging member or loop 30.

In practice a plate 31 with its engaging member or loop 30 is adapted to be secured in any desired manner to the opposite end portions of a life boat or the like, and the weight of the boat or the strain imposed by the boat upon the members 29 will maintain the same in operative engagement with the member or loop 30 but it will be perceived that as soon as the boat is floated the levers 27 will be relievedof the weight or strain and will therefore automatically disengage the member or loop 30.

In order to positively maintain the levers 27 in operative engagement with the member or loop 30, and especially when the boat is in applied position upon the deck of a ship I find it of advantage to suitably secure to the weighted portion 32 of one of the levers 27 the flexible member 33 adapted to be de tachably engaged, as at 34, with the weighted extremity 32 of the adjacent lever 27, said flexible member 33 being of such a length as to prevent the relative separating movement of the lower ends of the levers 27 when said member 33 is in connected relation with the upper extremities of both of said levers.

As is particularly illustrated in Fig. 1, it is to be noted that the extensions 10 are at no time in parallel relation and the longitudinal axes of said extensions 10' are dis posed on such lateral inclines to be arranged in outwardly converging planes when said extensions are at the limit of their movements in either inboard or outboard directions. The outer extremities of the extensions 10 are also connected by the rigid bar 35, the extremities of said bar 35 being pivzontally disposed shaft 40. The shaft 40 is mounted for rotary movement and is also capable of endwise movement for a pur-- pose which will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

The end portion of the second davit? below the deck 1 is operativelyengaged, as at 41, with the shaft 42 suitably supported by and belowthe deck 1 and which is operatively engaged, as at 43, with the second vertically disposed shaft ,44 positioned in close proximity to the shaft 38 and which also extends above the deck 1. The upper end of the shaft 44 is operatively engaged with the second driving gear 45 also loosely mounted upon the shaft 40 hereinbefore referred to.

As is particularly illustrated in Fig. 3, it is to beynoted that the connections between the shaft 38 and the gear 39 and the shaft 44 and the gear 45 are such that the shafts 38 and 44 revolve in opposite directions.

The gears 39 and 45 are provided with the inwardly directed hubs 46, the free ends of which being substantially in contact one with the other .as particularly illustrated in detail Fig. 5, and said hubs 46 are provided with the open slots 47 adapted to register.

48 denotes a key directed through the shaft 40 and extending; beyond opposite sides thereof whereby it will be perceived that when the shaft 40 is moved in one direction, the key 48 will extend within certain ofthe slots 47 of one of the hubs 46 to cause said hub to rotate in unison with the shaft 40 and that when said shaft 40 is longitudinally moved in an opposite direction, the key 48 will lock the second hub 46. When the shaft 40 is adjusted to cause the key 48 to be disposed through ertain of the slots in both of the hubs 46, it will be at once self-evident that said hubs and their driving gears are effectively locked against rotation and thereby hold the davits 7 against rotary movement.

The shaft 40 is adapted to be manually rotated and for which reason ithas suitably aflixed thereto the hand wheel 49. The shaft- 40 is also provided with the grooved collar 50 with which is operatively engaged the arm 51, and coacting with the arm 51 is the throw lever 52 whereby it will be perceived that the requisite endwise movement may be readily imparted to the shaft 40 to cause a positive rotation of either of the gears 39 or 45 or to lock said gears against rotary movement.

When it is desired to swing the davits from an inboard position to an outboard. position or vice versa, the key 48 is caused to have locking engagement with the hub 46 of the gear 45 and when the shaft 40 has been rotated sufiiciently to bring the extension 10 of the davit directly operated by the gear 39 substantially in alinement with the second davit 7, the key 48 is adjusted upon requisite endwise movement being imparted to the shaft 40 to engage the hub d6 of the second driving gear 45, whereupon the sec ond davit 7 will be positively rotated.

The drum 2O hereinbefore referred to is fixed to the shaft 53 disposed transversely of the false deck 2, while the drum 21 is fixed to the sleeve 54 loosely mounted upon the shaft 53. The shaft 53 is provided with the beveled gear 55 and the sleeve 54 with the beveled gear 56, said gears and 56 being operatively engaged with thd beveled gear 57 interposed therebetween whereby it will be perceived that said gears 55 and 56 may be caused to operate in unison but in reverse directions.

The gear 57 is fixed to the shaft 58 adapted to be driven by the drive shaft 59 of the motor M. As herein embodied, the motor M is of an electric type and the operation of the motor is under control of the switch S interposed in the conductors a electrically connected with the motor M and with the source of electrical energy E. It is also to be noted that the switch 3 is mounted upon the side of the shaft in close proximity to the operating means afforded by the hand wheel 4:9 and the throw lever The operative connection between th driving shaft 59 of the motor M and the shaft 58 is under control of the clutch C of any preferred type and wherein the movable member of the clutch is adjusted by the arm 60 connected to the vertically disposed sleeve 61 surrounding the shaft 62. The purpose of the shaft 62 will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

The sleeve 61 extends above the deck 1 and is provided with an operating member 63 whereby the shaft 58 may be readily coupled with or uncoupled from the driving shaft 59.

Fixed to the shaft 58 is the friction drum 6-1 with which coacts the brake band 65 operatively engaged with the rock arm (36 car ried by the lower end portion of the shaft 62 hereinbefore referred to. The upper portion of the shaft 62 is provided with an op eratinglever 67 whereby the shaft may be efiectively locked against rotation or released when necessary.

The lever 67 is provided with a conven tional spring latch 68 coacting with the rack 69. Vhen it is desired to hold the latch 68 out of engagement with the rack 69. the pivotal handle 70 of the lever 68 has engaged therewith the loop member 71 carried by the lever 67, and whereby the latch 68 is held free of the rack 69. The holding of the latch 68 out of engagement with the rack 69 is of particular advantage when the last person upon a ship desires to enter the life boat. In this event a flexible member 72 or the like is engaged with the lever 67 said member 7 2 being thrown to an occupant ofthe life boat who will exert sufficient strain upon the member to maintain the band 65 in requisite engagement with the drum 64 to hold the shaft 58 against rotation. After the last person has entered the life boat it is only necessary that the member 72 be released whereupon the life boat will descend.

In. order to prevent a too rapid descent of a life boat and its occupants, I find it of extreme importance to employ the governor mechanism G. As herein embodied. the mechanism G comprises av fixed plate 7 3 supported by the false deck 2 or in any desired manner, and fixed to the shaft 58 for rotation therewith is the plate 7%. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 58 and intermediate the plates 73 and 71 is a throw plate 75 which is adapted to move longitudinally of the shaft 58 and which is normally maintained out of contact with the stationary plate 73 through the medium of the expansible members 76 herein disclosed as comprising conventional coil springs encircling the headed members 77 carried by the plate 75 and loosely disposed through the plate 74:.

The plate H- is provided with a plurality of openings 78 through which are adapted to extend the cam ends 79 of the arms 80 pivotally supported by the plate 7t and ha ving their outer ends weighted, as at 81. It is thought to be self-evident that as the shaft 58 rotates the centrifugal force will (51115.0 the weights 81 to be thrown outward with the result that the cams 7 9 will force the plate 75 inwardly in a direction toward thev plate 73 so that the frictional contact between the plates 73 and 75 will retard the rotation of the shaft 58, and whereby said shaft 58 is held against rotation beyond a predetermined speed.

The arms 80 are normally drawn inwardly toward the shaft 58 through the medium of the retractile members or springs interposed bet-ween said arms 80 and the collar 82% fixed to the shaft 58. It is preferred that the portions of the shafts 38 and 41. above the deck 1 be housed by the casing 84. and in order that convenient access may be had. within said casing 8st, I provide the same with the hinged top 85. It is also to be noted that the hand wheel 4:9 is positioned exteriorly of the casing 84 as is also the outer end portion of the throw lever 52.

To prevent the cables 18 slipping from the drums 20 or 21 1 have found it of importance to provide the stationary guard plates 86 as is particularly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7. Also to prevent the cables 18 from jumping the pulleys 23 I find it of advantage to employ in connection with the lower portions of said pulleys the shields 87.

It has also been found of advantage to position above the motor M the brake afforded by the friction. Wheel 64 and band 65 and the governor G, the horizontally disposed plate 88 so that the adjacent cable 18 will be prevented from contacting with a rotatable part of the winding mechanism and which would otherwise possibly interfere with the successful operation thereof.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an apparatus for launching boats constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly Well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for launching boats consisting of rotatably supported davits, said davits having their upper end portions provided with angular extensions, means operable from a single source of power for positively rotating each of the davits, said operating means coacting with one davit independently of the other, and means for throwing said operating means into or out of engagement with each of the davits, said last named means also serving to lock the davits against rotary movement.

2. An apparatus for launching boats comprising rotatably supported davits, said davits being tubular and having their upper end portions provided with angular extensions, a face of each of said extensions being open, asupporting cable coacting with each of the davits and passing therethrough, a

winding mechanism coacting with the cables, and a movable plate coacting with each of the extensions for closing the open face thereof.

3. An apparatus for launching boats consisting of rotatably supported davits, a driving shaft co-acting with each of the davits, a shaft mounted for endwise movement and provided with means to engage with a driving shaft when at substantially the limit of its movement in opposite directions, means for rotating said last named shaft, and means for imparting endwise movement to the last named shaft.

4. An apparatus for launching boats consisting of rotatably supported davits, a driving shaft co-acting with each of the davits, a shaft mounted for endwise movement and provided with means to engage with a driving shaft when at substantially the limit of its movement in opposite directions, means for rotating said last named shaft, means for imparting endwise movement to the last named shaft, said shaft also serving, when in an intermediate position, to hold the driving shafts against rotation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

Homes L. SMITH, LEONARD MANSBACH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner 0! ratents,

Washington, D. G. 

